Field Books

The content of this book is indeed insightful and thought provoking but Bateson's writing style is frustratingly difficult to follow. I found myself again and again marveling equally at the profundity of his messages and the unnecessarily roundabout and rambling manner in which those messages are presented. The text needed three more revisions and then it would have been perfect. Regardless, I highly recommend it.

Sit in on a lecture by an engaging and knowledgable prof and you can expect to pick up a few tidbits. You certainly don't expect to come away knowing everything the prof knows. The subtitle of this book is about what Bateson knows, but you don't need to know any of that (or be particularly interested in it) to read this unusual book. My subtitle would be: You're Smarter Than You Think You Are."

I read this book in a Bantam mass market edition after sampling a piece of it in some science magazine (maybe Discover). Gregory Bateson was a renaissance man (which is one of the delights in reading him), the former husband of anthropologist Margaret Mead, and best known for the double bind theory of schitzophrenia, included as an essay in The Ecology of Mind. That theory may not sound well-known at all, but it's the basis of family counseling and why we talk about dysfunctional families (instead of just individuals). And we've all been in situations that are double binds, or as these no-win situations are known in everyday jargon: "damned if you do, damned if you don't".

Bateson wrote this book as metafiction, which is to say he talks about the book in the book, and he includes a handful or metalogues with his daughter, Catherine Bateson, herself now a writer for such magazines as Smithsonian, although he made them up. These metalogues reflect on ideas in the book and widen the feedback loop, as it were, to include the reader. They are relaxed and leisurely and not meant to be persuasive.

My experience reading this book was that it changed the way I saw everything. That sounds like an over-reaching claim or a self-help book gone wild, but the reason is, as Bateson points out, that many of our educations are simply based on gathering information, like Number Five in the film Short Circuit, with no help at all on how to think about it.

I certainly didn't understand everything in this book. But then, if you already understand and agree with everything in a book, why read it? What I did glean was a few tidbits from an engaging and knowledgeable prof who gave me not just more to think about but ways to think about it, and the happy realization that we're all smarter than we think we are.

Gregory Bateson is one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. This is one of his last books and it deals with matters of epistemology. The thinking preserved within its pages is profound yet most of the time down to earth. There Bateson parts company with most formal epistemologists, the majority of whom are utterly confused, at least in their way of exposition. You do not need to be an expert logician to understand Bateson's thinking; he is the expert and tutors you through the straights of Scylla and Charybdis with the outmost comfort and safety. From this fantastic journey you will definitively be enriched.

This book is one of his most important. It is a testament of his view of science and coming from a person who helped revolutionize more scientific fields than the average person has even heard of it should be taken seriously. In its pages Bateson tells us what science is and how it should be properly exercised. Given the confusion and nihilism that have followed on the pseudoscientific revolutions of postmodernism and decostructivism (read Focault, Derida or Judith Butler for instance) such readings are necessary if at times disturbing. Not all ways of doing science are equal and many of them are based on logical confusion. Bateson is clear on that point. On page 24 he tells us "Some tools of thought are so blunt that they are almost useless". Self-evident to most people this maxim needs to be restated and taken seriously, especially within the social sciences that have only succeeded in making minor steps since the time of Aristotle. In this book we learn the why of this unfortunate situation. The question is if anybody wants to listen...

Still Bateson is not in any way preaching like some untouchable headmaster, unlike many other philosophers of his rank (read Jerry Fodor for instance). He is aware of the difficulties and obstacles involved and most of the time keeps his voice low. He also is not a techno-freak like many of the newest cognitive scientists, modern rationalists or evolutionary psychologists though he is one of their intellectual fathers. Instead he often talks of the need of a holistic approach, of looking out for the pattern which connects mind to nature and nature to the universe, and warns against the dangers of degrading the ecosystem and turning our backs to the fellow living creatures of this, still wonderful, planet.

If you only read one book on the history of science or on epistemology make this one your choice. You wont regret it. It is a cybernetically quided misile which will hit you on the head, and change you forever. To the better that is.

This is a work of an exceptional and original genius.
"Mind and Nature" is both Gregory Bateson's most accessible and most difficult book. It is a deeply personal exploration of what has come to be called cognitive science from a brilliant man and great scientist who pioneered a deep synthesis of anthropology, language and communications, and biology over the course of a remarkable life. Be advised that it is more of a progress report on a lifelong quest than a coherent whole. If you have an enduring interest in cognitive science and you haven't read Bateson, you don't know what you are missing.
Bateson's starting point is, "How is it possible for the same evolutionary forces that shaped our survival as a species failed to shape our minds?" The answer, of course, is that it is not. It ought to be self-evident that the phenomenon that we call the "mind" is shaped by natural selection. Bateson does not claim to understand all the implications of this empiricist stance, his focus instead is on how to start asking the right questions about the mind and cognition. For instance: What is learning? What is play? (Is it true that only mammals play? Why is that?) If you think about it, these are phenomenon central to the human experience and there is no one that discussed them more insightfully than Bateson does here (and in "Steps...".
I find myself returning to this book again and again over the years. Its effect on me has been profound. I am sure I will never understand more than a small part of what Bateson is trying to tell me here, but the feeble fraction that I do understand is remarkable. The wisdom that animates this book has shaped many of the foundational notions of my life. It is full of life lessons.
And that reminds me of a story about the time I incorporated one of Bateson's teaching parables from this book into a speech I had to give not too long ago....

Gregory Bateson, one of the greatest minds in Anthropology and husband to Margaret Mead, has given us an incredible perspective through which to grow individually as well as collectively. At a time when our world suffers, "Mind and Nature" provides the reader with new perspectives on a balanced co-existence with our Planet and all Her species! Having contributed to visionary thinking about how we perceive our world, Bateson has added to the brilliant body of work which includes new looks at schizophrenia, dolphin communications and Nature Herself! A must read for those who wish to find ways to contribute to the desperate change of perspectives that facilitate a harmonious co-existence with Mother Earth, and more importantly, new ways to view the Self!

This book is great if you need it for a lifeguarding class, way cheaper than bookstore prices.

The United States Lifesaving Association has done it again. This book is the premier reference on open water lifesaving. Whether, an upstart department or an established older agency, this book provides specific information about lifeguarding methods that every lifeguard must know. If a lifeguard reads this book and practices what is in it, they will be able to provide excellent service to the public. Buy the United States Lifesaving Association, Open Water Lifesaving today. Make sure your next training class uses this Manual.

Eric Bauer

Lifeguard Captain, Newport Beach, CA.

The United States Manual of Open Water Lifesaving is a required text for training all of our seasonal ocean lifeguards. As an Operations Lieutenant for the City of Newport Beach the book has been an invaluable reference with general information, concepts and specific procedural techniques. There are photographs that depict various aspects of modern lifesaving and example report forms. A lifeguard agency or public safety agency that engages in open water rescue is remiss in not having this book for their students and as a reference. Renowned lifeguard experts from around the United States contributed to this excellent book. The book could also have significant impact internationally if a beach had to start a lifguard agency where one does not exist today. If one wants to become a lifeguard, this is a must have text. I am glad that this book exists and am hoping for a new edition that will be even better. Buy it today, you can't go wrong.

Open Water Lifeguards now have a manual written by veteran lifeguards who have put a lifetime of experience into easily read text. Used in combination with local training plans and protocols the USLA manual provides the supplementary material necessary for the complete training and retraining of open water lifeguards..Chapters on professionalism, the aquatic environment, meteorological considerations, preventative lifeguarding and surveillance, emergency planning and management, lifeguard health and safety and many other related topics provide a depth of training keyed to the open water environment unavailable from any other resource. Appendices providing useful beach management forms, an extensive glossary, surf boat rowing techniques and a thorough index complete usefulness of this valuable reference.

Open water lifeguarding in the 21st century requires thorough preparatory training in techniques and procedures as well as mental and physical conditioning. This manual provides an excellent tool for establishing a training plan that will develop competent lifeguards in accordance with contemporary standards of care emergency management guidelines.

David M. Shotwell, Sr., Beachfront Supervisor, Ocean Grove NJ

The USLA Manual of Open Water Lifesaving edited by Chris Brewster is the basic textbook used in the training programs for the following agencies in the State of Hawaii: Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division, City and County of Honolulu, Aquatics Division, County of Maui, Water Safety Section, County of Kauai, and the Aquatics Division, County of Hawaii. These agencies are responsible for providing ocean lifeguard services for their respective counties (each Hawaiian Island is considered a county, with Maui County including Molokai and Lanai and Kauai County including the island of Niihau.) All of the mentioned agencies are certified by the USLA under the Agency Certification Program. The USLA Manual of Open Water Lifesaving is the only manual of its kind that addresses the ocean/open water environment and the skills and knowledge essential to become an open water lifeguard. The manual is the result of the collaboration of lifeguards from across the country and provides historical as well as up to date information on open water lifeguarding. Descriptions of environmental conditions that the beach lifeguard will encounter and methods of dealing with these conditions are included in the text, as well as excellent chapters on drowning, prevention, rescues and equipment, and emergency medical treatment. An appendix which includes sample forms used by lifeguard agencies is also a valuable resource for those who administer lifeguard services. The textbook is well written, clearly organized, and serves as the fundamental resource for our agencies in the Hawaiian Islands.

I bought this book since 1st edition more than 10 years ago for collection.
But for the 2nd edition I bought 7 years ago, I use it as a reference for basic understanding. This is a very detailed textbook about MOSFET. But I still don't know how much different between small-signal model and large-signal model as a lumped circuit elements. Please gives an example of measurement value for recent development of small and large signal model lumped element of MOSFET so that I can design something realistic without HSPICE or SmartSPICE.Some reviewer from NEWCAS-TAISA2008 told me that basic noise model is useless. Does anyone beleive it true or false? So, I will wait for the 3rd edition of this book.

Just reading the Preface to this book, I fell in love with the author. I completely agree that sometimes the most rigorous and careful treatment of a subject actually makes it possible to study the material faster!! What always frustrated me and slowed me down in reading other books was the sloppiness and hand waving. It's amazing that many Ph.Ds and even authors of famous books like Uyemura's "Fundamentals of MOS ICs" don't understand the simple body effect, and talk about complete nonsense showing a 2 terminal capacitor with Vb applied to the bulk, and saying that the Vt will now change by the sqrt(Vb) body effect. They don't understand that the body effect is a 3 terminal effect and in 2 terminals if you apply Vb to bulk then your Vt will have to increase by Vb--NOT sqrt(Vb)!!! This book is a delight. Just the material on contact potentials was worth the money.

This is a repeat of a review I did previously.

Very good book, very neat and clean description, easy to understand, very informative and technical yet easy to understand.

I am a graduate student with main area of interest in Mixed mode design,testing and device modelling.This book was suggested to me by my proffessor.It is the book for MOSFET.I have read many books on this topic like Tyagi,Foty,massobrio etc but this books stands apart.It is a very well written book.Its progress is very logical going from two terminal device to four terminal device with very good explanation of the physics.More importantly the emphasis on the approximations made makes things clearer.....

For a person working with Mosfets it is a must......

I don't usually write reviews unless the book is either very poor or very good. This is one of the best books on my shelf. If you want to know the MOS transistor this is the book. Well researched, excellent explanations, excellent appendices. Other authors of technical books should use this as an example of how to write a good technical book.

This book was extremely informative and answers most of the questions you would have about the gaming industry. I'm hoping for a second edition! Definitely purchase this book if you are considering a career in this field.

I bought this for my bf because he was thinking of a video game career, he hasn't done anything with this field yet, but he said the book was good

Are you considering going into the video games industry, but you want to find out more about it before making the decision to make the jump? This book will give you an honest and insightful look at just about every facet of this competitive industry.

Whether your serious or curious about the games industry, you'll enjoy this entertaining read. I wholeheartedly recommend it!

This book gave me more insight about what the Gaming work world is like than all the other research I did my whole life.

This is an essential read for anyone who wants to design electronic games!

As a graduate advisor for gaming students at Westwood College Online, I can not stress enough how important and worthwhile this book is. I recommend this book to every student that I work with because it is full of numerous "wake-up calls" and good ideas for breaking into the industry. Check this book out, it will greatly help you in your career search.

After battling with a school physical education project on training principles, I found this book in our library and WOW, the assignment was easy! This book really made good practical sense and turned my essay from boring science to cool information. I now find myself wanting to read all the sports magazines to find out more about how world class athletes train and what they eat. Sounds to me like some of them need to buy a copy of this book to read!

Peak Performance is a fantastic resource and a great read. It demystifies scientific concepts and provides plenty of practical tips. The quotes make the book truely enjoyable to read. Anyone with a question about sports science and sports nutrition will find the answer in this book.

Finally a book that actually uses the peer reviewed literature. It was a pleasure to read this book knowing that you were getting factual and scientifically valid information. If you want to know what works in training and nutrition this is the book. Now I dont have to buy all those supplements - and have I saved a heap of $'s.

Peak Performance is the perfect companion for the athlete or coach looking for every ounce of accurate practical information available from sports scientists. John Hawley and Louise Burke (world leaders in sport related science) have teamed up to produce the "lay-persons" guide to improved athletic performance. Peak performance introduces us to the founding fathers of modern athletic training. Our authors then explore the facts that have been uncovered by exercise scientists attempting to discover proof of what produces optimal performance. An excellent blend of theory and practice!

There are so many good points about this book I hardly know where to start. What impresses me most is that the authors have maintained a balanced and rational view on the many diverse and sometimes conflicting inputs - lab. tests, experience in the sport, folklore, practicalities - all of these impinge on the attitudes of athlete and coach, and can result in a lot of confusion and uncertainty. The book does an excellent job in unravelling these tangled strands of knowledge and half-knowledge to present the a clear and accurate picture to the reader. Uncertain points are made clearer, several myths are debunked (some of my own misconceptions were cleared up). Yet where the truth remains hidden or is unclear this is commented upon. Concerning scientific studies the source material is extensive and up to date.

The layout and language are so clear and reader-friendly, and the material so interesting that I found it hard to put the book down. However, I'd have to advise readers not to try to take in too much at a time.

The few inaccuracies in some of the details didn't detract from the message or the overall quality. There is one slightly surprising omission, namely the absence of any discussion of the Conconi test for aerobic performance. Nevertheless, the sections on training are excellent; the ones on nutrition are even better.

What a treat to find an interesting well written book that helps explain the Catholic outlook and its rituals to mistified Protestants. Father Frank is a very appealing young priest with his all too human failings, goals and yearnings. We see his family, parish and view of life through his eyes as he goes through a year in the church calendar in training for the NYC marathon. Along the way, we see his growth and that of his church, and we grow in our knowledge of the different celebrations of the church year and their meaning. Frances Bremer has given us a city Catholic priest, reminescent of the Episcopal Father Tim in Jan Karon's Mitford series. She leaves us wanting more.

This book is a fascinating story within a story. Frank, a runner in his 30s, is training for the New York Marathon.

Frank comes across as very human; he could be the boy-next-door with his interest in playing poker, football, drinking beer and hanging out with his friends. But what makes him interesting and complex and gives the story its resonance and depth, is that he is a Catholic Priest.

A very thought provoking book.

God isn't finished with Frank yet and He uses the New York City Marathon to teach him a thing or two. This true story chronicles a year in the life of a young priest in Boston as he struggles to answer Christ's call to follow Him as he attends to his parish and trains for the marathon. As a priest, following Christ means bringing the people of the parish along to learn the love of God for them and the demands of a loving response. And some people, vividly portrayed, don't make it easy.

The analogy of life as a race is at least as old as the Greeks. St. Paul used it to describe his life: I have run the race, I have kept the faith. The race demands training, self-discipline, suffering, and an iron determination to finish. It never goes according to plan and the reward at the finish might not be what was expected.

_Running for Paradise_ is an affecting account that recognizes the rituals and devotions of Catholicism as doors for the human heart to enter the Heart of Christ. Fr. Frank and his flock, in the sometimes gritty circumstances of life, are faced with the reality of the hardness and selfishness of their hearts and invited to open themselves to the life of God's Heart. It is a modern tale of the timeless truths.

This is not a book for cynics - or maybe it is. A sweet and simple story about ordinary people, it runs a bridge over the chasm between rationality, our need for hard proof, and the consoling power of prayer and simple faith. Those of us needing something more than the materiality of modern life may find comfort here. Others, too smart and too busy for religion in their lives, will not bother. They should.

What a treat to find an interesting well written book that helps explain the Catholic outlook and its rituals to mistified Protestants. Father Frank is a very appealing young priest with his all too human failings, goals and yearnings. We see his family, parish and view of life through his eyes as he goes through a year in the church calendar in training for the NYC marathon. Along the way, we see his growth and that of his church, and we grow in our knowledge of the different celebrations of the church year and their meaning. Frances Bremer has given us a city Catholic priest, reminescent of the Episcopal Father Tim in Jan Karon's Mitford series. She leaves us wanting more.

This is a great book. I started running again at 49 years of age and thought that I should just be able to go out and run, when it wasn't working well I was discouraged. After reading this book I have a whole new routine and feel great. Even have the right size and type of shoes. I have recommended it to several other people.

As a former late 40's, near-obese person I have been having a great deal of success with this program, since starting in mid-November. Each week I see better results and have been able to do more running. My suggestion for anybody purchasing this book is to follow the program as written and not to try to do too much too soon. As a "want it now" society, we tend to neglect the importance of time with things such as weight loss. Be patient--it will happen! Happy running!

As the title of this book says, this is the perfect book for you if you have been bitten by the running bug and you want to start properly.

I had been trying to become a runner on my own but was unsuccessful. After reading this book, I discovered I was doing a lot of things wrong. Jeff Galloway's direct approach and positive writing inspired me to become consistent with my running program.

I thought that running was the most boring sport on the planet. I was more of a sprinter short term running sport person. For some reason I picked up this book and became enthralled by it. It made me understand the mechnaics of running and why Mr. Galloway loves it. To the point now where I run every other day, I look in the book to determine what I need to do before race day, what to eat etc. In essence love the book and I was not a runner until I read this book.

I just finished reading "The Small Business Owner's Guide to a Good Night's
Sleep," and have already recommended it to a couple small business owners I know. I
congratulate the author! It's well-written, precise, and practical.
Kim Lisi
Managing Editor
HOMEBusiness Journal

I got more advice from this book's chapter on dealing with employees than I
have in the last three books I've read on employee relations, put together. I
especially appreciated the information on how to involve families of
employees to, in turn, motivate the employees even more.. . . and all while
keeping the families out of the way. I'm not sure I agree with Traverso that
a small business can survive and even thrive through a recession, but her
tips seem to make great sense, so I'm going to try them.

This is one of the best books I've read in months on how to manage your
business prudently and efficiently. I bought it so that I would have it on my
shelf for when those frightening unexpected and negative times arise. . .and
we know they do in every business. . . so I was surprised to find myself
reading the book for about two hours without putting it down. I also took the
time to do the small business self-audit, and the author was right: I DO have
problems brewing in my organization that I wasn't even aware existed before I
read the book. Worth the money.

I got more advice from this book's chapter on dealing with employees than I
have in the last three books I've read on employee relations, put together. I
especially appreciated the information on how to involve families of
employees to, in turn, motivate the employees even more.. . . and all while
keeping the families out of the way. I'm not sure I agree with Traverso that
a small business can survive and even thrive through a recession, but her
tips seem to make great sense, so I'm going to try them.

At first glance I thought this book was written for managers who regularly put out fires. But when I started studying the book I quickly learned that the book identifies a myriad of typical "fires" that can sprout up at work and describes how a good manager/leader can PLAN so the likelihood of such fires ever starting is minimal. I highly recommend this book for any entrepreneur in business to use when strategically managing his or her business rather than managing with a fire extinguisher.

The book is split into 3 sections:

1. Principles of planning for a small business
2. Getting your house in order
3. When the crisis moves from in-house to the public

My favorite chapter was #3 (Avoid the Most Common Management Missteps), but chapters 2, 4 & 5 were very good ones as well concerning self-audit, employees, and computers. If you are a small business owner, then do yourself a favor and read this book. I suspect it will inform you of a few things you should do at your work that will improve your way of doing things.

I got this for my husband for Father's Day, and while I expected a large book, this is more than I imagined. The pictures are so dramatic in content and so large in scope, each page requires an extended time to absorb it. My husband is thrilled with it, and goes back to it regularly as it can't be read all at once. A must for every sports fan!

I purchased this book for my husband, after seeing Mr. Ross on the Today Show. My husband who is a sport freak, is totally in love with this book. The pictures are stunning! This is a MUST have for any sports lover. And the price is amazing!!

OK look-- and I mean it- LOOK! This oversized, coffee table book is filled with incredible images and sports moments. Micheal Jordan frozen high above the court, Arnold Palmer & Jack Nicklaus looking like kids sharing a table, Muhammad Ali & Joe Frazier looking like old warriors/friends. And the occasional anecdotes about the shoots are wonderful.

Why only 4-stars? The presentation doesn't allow for any identifying captions on each page. There's an index-type "key" in the back of the book. Given the book's size, it is rather awkward to flip the pages forward and back to identify the athletes, not to mention that the entries are somewhat difficult to read due to the very small font.

BUT-- this is a minor complaint. If you've never seen Iooss' work (impossible?), you're in for a huge treat. And even if you have, you owe it to yourself to see them presented here. Gorgeous.

As a former professional photographer (and currently successful writer), I consider Walter Iooss to be the best working photographer around (and the best sports photographer ever); his new book, a retrospective of his 40 years behind the lens, confirms this in spades. Whether you're a sports fan or just a fan of beautiful imagery, this book is a must. Hear me? A MUST. (And at the Amazon price you goddabe nuts not to own it.)

Walter Iooss has been front and center among sports photographers since he was a skinny teenager in the 1960s.

Five decades of sport blend seamlessly together in this exception volume. There isn't a single weak image in this book, which is hardly surprising since I seriously doubt that Walter has ever shot a bad photo...

I never tire of Walter's stories and his back story about his photos of Tiger Woods and of Yogi Berra with Whitey Ford are priceless...

Anyone who loves sports photography will love this beautifully designed book.

Es un excelente libro sobre el manejo táctico de la pistola. Esta muy bien ilustrado, lo que facilita la comprensión del tema. solo hecho en falta más datos estadisticos que puedan servir de guía para conocer el avance en la PRÁCTICA de los conceptos, por lo demás esta muy bien. Lo recomiendo bastante.

This book was an immediate help in improving both my shooting skills and tactical awareness. The information it included on proper mindset and habits should continue to sharpen my thinking. It's exactly the kind of book I like, clear, concise and relevant.

We just finished reviewing 10 recent tactical shooting books (2000 to 2008) for an upcoming magazine article, and Lawrence's Tactical Pistol Shooting is light years ahead of all the others, regardless of price.

If you spend $5,000 and go to Gunsite (we teach blade combat as one of the Yavapai modules), you will walk away with almost the same knowledge as buying Lawrence's book for under 20 bucks! Erik covers all the most recent topics and insights, and does it with tons of illustrations, lots of lists, and extremely practical advice for the real world. Even our seasoned NRA instructors are raving about his thoroughness.

There is NO wasted space in this book. Others spend time arguing about stance, quoting philosophy, etc. for "fill." Lawrence PACKS the book with original and unusual professional topics, including gun fighting while injured, knife fighting, and many other unexpected pearls. 8 of the other 10 we reviewed were ok for beginners, this book has enough beef for even the most experienced pro.

As a retired police officer from the Washington DC area with over 23 yrs on the job, 15 of which were in SWAT and law enforcement special operations, I highly recommend this book to anyone in our field who wishes to become a better, safer, and more tactically aware operator. Beware of books and author's promising the latest, greatest, advanced tactics. I've never been impressed with a lot " How To " books that get generated by former persons in our line of work, but Erik Lawrence has put together a solid collection of proven tactics and techniques that will produce results. In my unit we used to study every possible way that we could constantly improve our skill sets. What we found is that only a disciplined application of fundamentals will give you the foundation necessary to expand and grow. That is what this book delivers. Mr. Lawrence, with his substantial background and operational knowledge appreciates the same demanding approach to sharp, crisp fundamentals. Additionally, I have trained with Erik and I can promise you that his qualifications as an instructor are among the best out there. Get the book. You won't be sorry.

Steve Filyo, POIII Montgomery County Police, Maryland, retired.

What saves lives in a gun fight is doing the basics well. This is one of the best books out there for teach the basics. Excellent pictures and easy to understand discriptions makes this book great for all levels of marksman. If your getting into pistol shooting or want to learn how tactical teams shoot this is a must have.